Last week in Maryland, 32-year-old Tequia Monea Nails was gunned down in her home in front of her children. The suspect in the case was the father of her 3-month-old twins. About 2 weeks ago, a 40-year-old woman was shot at the Walmart she was employed in New Mexico. The suspect was a 53-year-old man she was in a relationship with prior. He turned the gun on himself after and he succumbed to his injuries while she remains in the hospital. Hearing cases like these continues to be disheartening in 2024. Here in the U.S. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Although we should always be aware of the high numbers of people affected, this month devotes itself to informing the greater population.
It is reported that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience violence by an intimate partner. In the U.S., Kentucky, Nevada, and Alaska has some of the highest number of cases of violence against women. For violence against men, New Hampshire, Tennessee and Oklahoma have some of the highest rates. As of August 2024, the state of Indiana saw 45 homicides related to domestic violence. The state of Kentucky released a Domestic Violence report from the year prior and determined that their were nearly 27,000 cases of child abuse domestic violence. The Illinois Coalition for Domestic Violence released their statistics from the prior year and determined their cases rose by 110%. There were 94 incidents leading to 120 deaths.
With this the numbers tells the stories, but not all of it. These type of cases are still under reported. If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic violence, seeking help can make a difference, but it can be scary trying to find a way out. The National Coalition for Domestic Violence has a 24/7 hotline and the number is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or you can even text START to 88788 for assistance.
So, in this month of October try to increase your awareness of these type of events in our country and around the world. Below you will find some of the stories of people who lost their lives because of it.